Give Her The Mic

Pass the Mic - Victoria

• Chloe & Kristen

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Kristen:

Hello everyone. What episode are we on, Chloe? We're on

Chloe:

season. We just say season two. Now we're, we're on season two

Kristen:

and we have the beautiful Victoria here with us. The beautiful. We're so excited. Yeah, we, yeah. No, like I don't see why every woman that we bring on here is just like glowing and beautiful and bright. I actually realized this the other day. Mm-hmm. I feel like people. Age worse when they're not kind people. I agree. We talked about this. Literally thousand percent are started pulling people up when you have beautiful energy. We we beautiful energy, all that stuff. Yes. You age better.

Chloe:

You do.

Kristen:

You really do. You start to Okay. You

Chloe:

from the inside out. Yes. Beautiful. We have Victoria kills

Kristen:

you, Victoria. We met Victoria. Um, from Orange Theory when we used to go there, she was one of our trainers, which is crazy

Chloe:

cause me you don't know about our friendship, but like, we weren't friends for like a good four and a half years, but we were best before that. I remember that. We both went to Orange Theory, so I didn't even know she was there. I didn't even know she was going there. No, I remember. And then you had actually told me one day you are like, I buy Sensei from this girl Kristen. And I'm just like, she goes. Best friend. No, but I was like, it's cool, it's whatever. Yeah. But like it was really cool'cause I'm like, of course Kristen would love you. You and I love you. And then since we come back together, I guess.'cause we went back to the gym together. I did,

Kristen:

I did, I did. Yeah. Yeah, yeah. It was a sweet

Victoria:

friendship story. Yes,

Kristen:

it really was. We're very lucky. Yes, yes. But that's how we met. Victoria was at Orangetheory. She was a trainer. She was a great coach. Thank you. Always a great coach. Like Oh yeah, definitely yelled at you the appropriate amount. You need that though. But was also. Sweet and kind like you have. Thanks. Innate, clearly leadership skills like you. Thank you. You're clearly like meant to be a leader, I would say For sure. Yeah. Which is of the reasons we

Chloe:

really wanted you on here. It's like. We love women that have, it's like that soft, feminine, feminine energy, but also that, listen, I'm not gonna let you stay here. Yeah. Right. And that is the inner, I feel like core part of you is like, yes, you help bring the best out of women, and that's just what we're looking for in this space. That's, and like you brought that every time, like I would do like the six. Am which was early for me. I know there was a five or whatever before that. But you would do the sixes and you'd just be there. Girl, you have your little energy drink. Yes. And you had little strong stuff just doing your thing. Yep. You know, and it was just like so inspiring.'cause I was like, if she can show up every day, and I feel like you were like managing it too, right? Yeah. I was like, okay. She's doing it. Yeah. You know, like with like 30 something people walking.

Josh:

Yeah. Yes. Like

Chloe:

by every person getting to know their names, helping them, like showing them the correct techniques. Mm-hmm. Like you wanna talk about personal trainers could never, this is like Orange Theory, just side note is a whole other level of coaching. I know it's, yeah. Your mind has to be, I feel like, in a million different directions all the time. Then you're looking at the time. Then it's like, what song are we doing? I'm like, this is, yeah. There's so much multitasking. I'm sure.

Kristen:

Because that me no joke. I know for sure you got people and I have been an athlete. It's not funny, but like you, like you my entire life. But I would say 90% of the people in there have not been an athlete their entire life that this, and you're doing these, you're trying to get on and I injured all the time, so I can't imagine. I know these people. I'm like, it's so easy. It's so easy. You gotta stretch, man. That's all I'm gonna say about Orange Theory. You, you gotta stretch a lot. You gotta take care your body. I didn't do that enough. Yes, for sure. But gosh, he was great. Remember before we even

Chloe:

like get into this, like I remember,'cause you know, my husband started going Orange Theory and like Justin was not ready because his first like two classes, I think he burned like 900 calories and he was like, I am dying. And I was like, yeah, this, because he thought it was like a girl workout. Mm-hmm. And then he went and he was. Like, but yeah, it's definitely like that workout orange theory will whip you. Yeah, right. Appreciate Will. Oh

Kristen:

yeah, for sure. A hundred percent. Any who? Okay, so, but we know you obviously from that perspective and stuff, but we do wanna get to know you personally. You do. Just tell us before we started filming that you're from Shelby.

Victoria:

I am so

Kristen:

born and raised in Shelby, I guess born

Victoria:

and raised in Indianapolis, Indiana. Oh, what, okay. Oh, fun. I've been there once, all like Indianapolis.

Chloe:

Is

Victoria:

a

Chloe:

vibe.

Victoria:

I went a long time ago with, since you haven't joined yet, is that city?

Kristen:

No, I don't know that place. Uh,

Victoria:

Indianapolis is a city, Indiana is the state. Okay. And you grew up there? Um, until I was about five years old. Okay. And then moved to Shelby? Moved to Shelby with my two parents. Um, are you an only child? I am an only child.

Kristen:

Yeah.

Victoria:

I'm, it's just me. I don't

Kristen:

know many people that are only children.

Victoria:

No. Really, I

Kristen:

really don't. Uhuh.

Victoria:

Yep. I am an only child. I have a really small family. It's just my dad and my mom we're obviously, we're all very close. Um, grew up, played sports. I was a cheerleader and a dancer. Okay. I loved it. Had amazing friends. Um, I was always planning to go to school in Charlotte because I love Charlotte. Oh, fun. And I wanted to be close to my family, so I was like UNC Charlotte. Yeah. That's where I'm going. It's a

Chloe:

great school. It is. Justin went there for a little bit. Oh really? Yeah. I didn't know that.

Victoria:

Yeah, he fell out. But he went for a little bit. He went for a little bit. Yeah. He was doing the most

Kristen:

there. He was probably doing much. Yeah. He was doing way too much. Too much. Yeah. Yeah. Uhhuh,

Victoria:

um, I toured it and I just didn't really like it, the campus. And so I toured ECU and it was a beautiful campus. Mm-hmm. And it just felt cozy. Mm-hmm. It was fall time. The leaves were changing. Beautiful. It's so pretty here in the fall of the campus. Beautiful. And like

Chloe:

central campus. Yeah. That's what sold me too. It was so pretty. Yeah.

Victoria:

So I was like, okay, I am going here. It was a big heartbreak for my family because they're so close. Yeah, I'm their only child in three

Chloe:

and a half hours. It's kind of far. Yeah. Yeah. It's four and a half. Oh, oh wow. Because you're past Charlotte a little bit. Yeah, yeah.

Victoria:

Yeah. Four and a half. Um, but I ended up staying in Greenville obviously once I graduated. Where'd school for? Public health. Okay. Yes. And my bachelor's, I was way

Chloe:

off. I thought it was nutrition.

Victoria:

I

Chloe:

mean,

Victoria:

public health, nutrition. You, I feel, feel like those two

Kristen:

things make Yeah. Why public

Chloe:

health? What were you gonna do with that?

Victoria:

Um, well I was originally gonna go to nursing school. Oh, hey girl. Yes. That was the plan. Wow. That's why

Chloe:

ECU.

Victoria:

Yes. Okay. My family, they're all nurses. Oh. So I was gonna follow that track, but. The more that I shadowed and did it, I just didn't really love it. I was a CNA for a while in Williamston, North Carolina. Mm-hmm. Yep. Maybe like, yep, yep,

Kristen:

for sure.

Victoria:

Um, I just didn't really love it. I don't know. Yeah. So how was your

Kristen:

family with you not choosing nursing? Were they supportive?

Victoria:

They were supportive,

Kristen:

yeah.

Victoria:

They were supportive. Um, my advisor recommended that I feel very supportive. If

Kristen:

someone didn't choose nursing, yeah. I would be like, maybe it's, I mean, nursing is what it is. It's just, it's such a hard career,

Victoria:

really.

Kristen:

Oh, yeah. Mm-hmm.

Victoria:

You wouldn't recommend it to your children?

Kristen:

Me? No,

Victoria:

she's still a

Kristen:

nurse. I'm still a nurse, but I would probably say no if I'm being honest. I not the way nursing is now either. No, it's way worse than it used to be. It's changed for sure.

Yeah. Unless

Kristen:

you had a crazy end goal and you were like gonna be a FMP or something different. But even that right now is is hard. No. If you

Chloe:

were gonna like mm-hmm. I would, I would say if I was still a nurse, I would get my licensure to open some kind of wellness center spot. That's what like a private practice would do with it. Practice? Oh, yes. Yeah, it's too much. Yeah. Focused on like holistic wellness. Yeah, that's probably smarter. Even like some Botox and things like that, so I can mix. I would do something like that. Oh, if I wasn't his

Kristen:

age, I'd definitely be going back to school. Yeah. There's no way. Yeah, it's just

Chloe:

so mentally it's hard to explain nursing mentally and physically draining like, and I

Victoria:

think that's why I couldn't do it, because I'm very. I could, you could say I'm emotional empathetic. Yes. I'm very empathetic and I think I would just take it home. Mm-hmm.

Chloe:

I would. I did a lot. Kristen, I feel like is really good at separating. I do better now. It just depends on

Kristen:

the situation. You're very, if I'm being honest, oh. Yes. Extremely.

Chloe:

Yeah. She like prays with her patients and Oh, like, yeah, they're my homies for sure. They're my babies. And I was opposite, like I would like fight with the doctors and I was that kind of empathetic. I would get so mad and angry and I'm that way

Kristen:

as well. I'm kind of both. And

Chloe:

I couldn't control myself in that environment. And I was, I don't blame you. This is really unhealthy for me. And so I had, I had an opportunity to be able to step out of it. Mm-hmm. But the money is. So good. So it is, that is very sidetracked and where we went with this pros and cons. Yeah, it's hard to say. I'm glad. Say you

Kristen:

didn't do it though, are you? I'm assuming you're happy that you did not do it. I'm happy. Yeah.

Victoria:

I didn't know I was gonna end up where I am today. Yeah. Yeah. I had no idea. So

Chloe:

where did you start then? Like did you start in fitness or? No, when I graduated,

Victoria:

I started at the Beaufort County Health Department. Oh, wow. Yes. Okay. I did community um, health. There. Mm-hmm. Wow. So I was going out into the community, but it was also very COVID prevalent. So I was dealing a lot with COVI and reaching out to close calls just to make sure everybody was doing okay. Mm. Doing a lot of the backend research to make sure that we were all contacting who we were. Basically. The health department kind of split up and just handled COVID that entire year.

Yeah.

Victoria:

But I just. I was sitting in the office a little bit too long and I was just very unhappy. Looking at the same, yeah. Four gray walls.

Josh:

Mm. Um,

Victoria:

and I was teaching fitness classes while I was a student at ECU for about a year. Oh, cool. That's where I got my certification.

Mm.

Victoria:

Um, and before I graduated, I'd reached out to Orange Theory about teaching, but it just didn't work out. They weren't hiring. Okay.

But they

Victoria:

called me one day and I was like, okay, I'll. Audition. You have to go through a really kind of rigorous training program with other people that, oh wow. You just thought audition. Oh wow. Well said Audition. Well, makes sense. I guess because you

Chloe:

got a mic on and stuff. Yes, you do. Yes, this is true. You have to audition. These are people's lives. Yes,

Victoria:

yes. It was a big, big thing. There were about five of us that went through. It was like a two day training, learning all of. Like how to coach and how to present yourself, and then you have to do an audition. Wow. You either pass or not.

Whoa. That's cool. I was lucky.

Victoria:

Wow. That I was, I got sent through, um, and I started working as all that cheer dance helped you girl. It did. You're like, I got this. It did. I think you were like, ready For sure. Let's go. Literally, I cheered two in high school, so Yeah. It was fun. It was fun. It, I, fitness reminds me of. My childhood, whenever I'm moving and dancing, especially bar now, because you're moving to the beat of the music. And in high school I was the cheer captain, so I would do, I would make the dances. Mm-hmm. I would make the music. Mm-hmm. So it's very cohesive. I love it. And kind of like healing my inner child. I was, so, they talked a lot about

Chloe:

like, um, psychologically how good it is to incorporate fun into your adulthood life. Mm-hmm. How, um. I feel like all three of us can probably kind of be type A and like with the program. And so people like us sometimes it can be really hard to like be like, okay, I'm allowed to have fun. Let me go have fun. Yeah. So I love that you found something that brought that out because Yeah. I mean, looking at, and that's another thing with a hospital that's super hard, like you're inside without. Lighting, like looking outside all day. Mm-hmm. And like when you're looking just at walls all day and you're not getting out, it really affects Oh yeah. Yeah. It takes away from your creativity, your quality of living, that part. Yeah. So that's so cool. So you started at Orangetheory, obviously

Victoria:

you loved it. I did. I loved it so much. It was a very rewarding job. Um, so fulfilling whenever you see people. Just changed their lives. Oh yeah. Yeah. In their mindset. Leave back and you see their mood boost and I don't know, it's fun. You see them crush goals too. Yes. Yes. Uhhuh, you see them do things that they would never imagine themselves to do. No way. Mm-hmm. It's very, very rewarding. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

Chloe:

And I was like in the pit of my depression when I started out Orange Theory. Mm-hmm. I was super, super unwell and so yeah, you guys were. Like, just so pivotal, like you sue and Sue. Well, um, I'm blanking on a lot of the other names. Some of the other female coaches there. Mm-hmm. Um, just amazing. Like, y'all really were incredible. I, me and Kristen actually talked a lot about that when we became friends again, like about you and about Sue l and just like. Sweet how you guys were like, it's like, not that you were like our friends, but when we were there we felt like we were like in partnership together. Like, hey, a hundred people, a hundred percent. And it just felt different.

Kristen:

God definitely put you guys there on the days for sure. Yeah. You know?

Victoria:

Yeah. Yeah. And I can say the same thing in reverse, you know, like having people that really want to come in and just like block out the world. Yeah. Mm-hmm. And do something for themselves. Yeah. Is not only inspiring for us, but it gives us kind of a sense of purpose. Yeah. As in like, we are actually helping you. Yeah. And you're helping us. It's, it's not one sided.

Chloe:

Yeah. That's so beautiful. So beautiful. So moving on with that, um. And I, you know, it's funny'cause me and Kristen were like, we really don't know you that well. Mm-hmm. But we were like, it's really cool'cause these are the people we want on our episodes now. Right. So people aren't just like, oh, this is Chloe and Kristen's besties, but like we felt connected with you and we've always. Felt like a good energy. Yeah. And definitely with mental health. Mm-hmm. When, when we were talking about what we wanna talk with you about on this episode, you know, you know, a lot of women struggle with mental health. Mm-hmm. I'm sure you've heard a lot about it, even when you were a coach. Even now, just I'm, I'm sure there's women that come to you and talk about things. Yes. All the time. How has that shaped the way that you lead, the way you coach, and also you can share a little bit about your new. Business journey. Yeah. Now as well with that.

Victoria:

And yeah, I think I'm learning so much when it comes to mental health. Mm-hmm. Um, I, when stepping first into the fitness world, I did it personally to change the way that I looked. I was not happy with how I looked. Um, but as the years went on, I think I just found a sense of love for movement, just as a release and as therapy. Um, so I lost a lot of the body image thoughts that I at first had, and it just turned into joy and happiness and just kind of, um, a good addiction, really. Mm-hmm. And so I always think back to like where I was whenever I first started working out. Whenever I see people that are starting off with their first day as well, because I know that. Mostly everybody. It really just depends. Um, but mostly everybody that's stepping into the gym for the first time is in some sort of way intimidated or they already have some sort of negative self-image issues. Mm-hmm for sure. Um, so I think just first being empathetic and reminding yourself of where I started and where you started is really important. But then just reminding them that it's not about. Body image. It's not about how you look. There are so many other benefits to fitness and it really does tie to your mental health. Um, as long as you stay with it and as long as you're consistent. I think another one of my goals when it comes to fitness and mental health is to make sure all of the women that I see are having a good time so that they're enjoying themselves. They're. Finding maybe a sense of community. I really thrive and I think love it whenever people that don't know each other come into a class. Yeah. And then they walk out and they're talking. Yeah. That kind of really fuels me, gives me, um, extra joy as well, I think. When it comes to the business aspect, it's definitely a learning curve, especially because I stepped into a new role recently. Yes. Tell us, please

Chloe:

tell everyone about it. Yes.

Victoria:

Um, so it is downtown bar. It's downtown in Greenville, right across from Chico's. Um, it is an amazing women owned business. Um, it's owned by two owners named Anna Seagrave and Samantha Ward. They're based out of Morehead City, so they started their downtown bar in Morehead City in 2012, and they got the opportunity to expand in Greenville about two years ago. Um, so it's been a very big slow, but sure work in progress where every detail has been really thought out and. Collaborated with not only the general contractor, which her name is Claire Edwards. She's amazing. Yes. Another woman, she built the building from scratch to hear, hear. It was a very big woman project. I love it. Yes. And it was so much fun just seeing all the pieces come together. Mm-hmm. Um, I was actually moving back home. I, no way. Yes. Stop. I was planning on moving back home probably last, um, may. Did you just miss it? Um, yes, I miss my friends. I miss my family. I really realized that I was caring about Orangetheory too much. Mm-hmm. Like I had put my work over my entire life. Mm-hmm. And I, oh,

Chloe:

let's, can we talk about that for a minute? Yeah. Are you allowed to? Like, what do you mean? Were you just like sacrificing?

Victoria:

Yeah. I think I just looked around one day and I was like, all of the people that I'm surrounded by Orange Theory, um mm-hmm. I have, I had such a good buy-in, like I cared. My heart was just way too, yeah, too invested. Too invested. And I looked and I was like, um, I don't know. I just didn't really feel like. I wanna feel that way about my own business one day. Mm-hmm. But I felt like it was too much for someone else's. Yes. Mm-hmm. Yeah. Um, so I just decided to step away and so I was moving, I was actually gonna transfer to a different orange theory just to get away as soon as I could.

Yeah.

Victoria:

Um, and that start date was figured out, but I had taken a trip to Morehead City one day. I went to the beach. Oh God. And mm-hmm. Yeah. I usually always go to take a fitness class whenever I travel, so I took a downtown class. Of course you do. I know. It's fun. That's a whole different story, but, um. I took a yoga class and Anna, the owner, recognized me from other Orange Story members. Should I know. It was so sweet. That's cool. You're Victoria. Yeah. It was so sweet. And she was like, I would really love for you to be our studio manager. And I was like, I'm moving. I think I'm okay. She took shot and took her shot. Didn't she go? She did. She was so sweet. Um. She made it. We all made it work. Sam. Anna. We sat down a few days. Well, it's cool. You gotta see'em face to face and get the feeling. Yeah. I think how you feel

Chloe:

is important when you're in front of somebody making a decision like that. Exactly,

Victoria:

exactly. They're such genuine ladies and they're so strong. And they're the best role models like their lives are. I, I'm really proud of them for what they've accomplished, and I'm honored to be able to, I'm kind of being, it sounds like great mentors too. Great mentors in the

Chloe:

footsteps that you've wanted to take, which sounds like entrepreneurship. Exactly.

Victoria:

Yes. Um, the fall before I left Orange Theory, I had applied for graduate school. Or business because I wanted to do it. So it was like, I don't know. I feel like God just, yeah, put all the things in order for as he

Chloe:

does. Yeah. Won't he do it? So you pulled out of that orange theory back home? I did. Are you in business school now or are you gonna do school? School? I took a

Victoria:

break. Okay. I'm two semesters in, but I took a break for the business to open so that way I could really just handle that. Yeah.

Chloe:

Capacity level's important. Yeah, for sure. Yes, yes, yes, yes. It's been,

Victoria:

it's been a lot doing. Just operating the business, making everything, um, from scratch. Yeah. Tell us from scratch, tell us

Chloe:

about it.'cause you're 26 and you know. That's a lot, right? Yeah. Like I can't imagine. And not the pressure, but also you want to do a good job. Exactly. You want do well for them. Mm-hmm. And you also wanna show yourself that you can do this because Yes, eventually one day you will have, yeah, you're in studio. We can't wait to go in that one day or whatever it looks like. But yeah. So I was gonna say, sorry, we haven't been yet. I ended up moving. I know. I know. You moved, she got pregnant. She needs to go asap. I do. I know she does. All of our friends have been. See'em, tag it, Uhhuh and they keep going. Yeah. So it looks like a place that they wanna come back to and that Yes. Describe

Kristen:

what y'all do there, because I don't even understand like the exercise, like what is it? Yeah. So it's Pilates essentially. Um, well,

Victoria:

we have so many different modalities. Okay. So we have two studios. There's a heated studio. It's infrared, heated solar panels. How

Kristen:

hot is it?

Victoria:

About a hundred to 1 0 2. Ooh, Chile Tough. Woo. Yeah. Get you there. Does

Kristen:

anyone throw up?

Victoria:

Um, no, I have not seen any Victoria be paying attention.

Chloe:

Yeah. She's like, I've

Victoria:

been

Chloe:

to coach Befores, child needs water.

Victoria:

That one

Chloe:

needs water.

Victoria:

Get her outta here for 30 seconds. I know some people definitely need to get a breather and take a step outside. Yes, because it does get hot. Especially if the classes are full. Yeah. Oh, I bet. Then it heats up higher. Yeah. Our body temperature. Sweat. Yeah. It's a good full body detox. Yeah, man. I bet it is. Yeah.

Chloe:

You need to do that one when you go.

Victoria:

You do. Yeah. You need to Come on Kristin.

Kristen:

Yeah, I do need a detox from lots of things we

Victoria:

do bar, so that's gonna be ballet infused movements. I love around the ballet bars. Mm-hmm. That sounds like fun. It's really good. You move to the beat of the music. It's a lot of repetitions, pulsing, but it's so much gosh to my, I'd be making everybody laugh. It's hard in there.

Kristen:

I would be a joke and that. That'd be hilarious. You're so tall. I need to try that though. I am very tall, a danceful. I am not graceful. I'm like a bone China shop. I look like I should be graceful, but I'm the opposite. But you know what? I could try. I definitely would be a lot of fun.

Victoria:

Come try. We have other classes, uh, have. Pilates, we have yoga and then a little bit of strength training with beautiful our cycling class. So is it like a membership kind of fee? Like orange theory kind of deal? You can do memberships or you can do class packs. Gotcha. I

Chloe:

love that. I love class pack. That's cool.

Kristen:

I like a class pack because sometimes

Chloe:

it's like you just wanna go in and catch the vibe. Uhhuh. Yeah. You know, it's sure. It's hard to like buy in, especially when you're talking about mental health. Like I remember like. Walking in my first time, and I think this would be so good for women to hear. It's like so hard walking into like a Pilates or an Orange theory for the first time. It's, and not being intimidated. It's terrible. I was so intimidated and I'm not, there's

Kristen:

women talking. They're all, and I'm not a

Chloe:

talker. I'm not that gal. Like I'm,

Kristen:

but I won't walk up to people. I don't know. You're having a conversation, you're like, and then

Chloe:

y'all are like high five, the person beside you. I'm like, this shit is crazy. It's crazy. But it's like, I love the fact that. Even there, it's like they can get a couple classes. Mm-hmm. See how it is. Mm-hmm. So, so you're running this studio essentially?

I am.

Chloe:

Wow.

Victoria:

I am

Chloe:

from running one studio to running another studio.

Victoria:

Yes. Yes. With Orange Theory, I only led the fitness team. So only the coaches. But here it's whole business boutique. Yep. Love it. It's a boutique and all of the instructors, and we have, I think 23 instructors. Wow.

Chloe:

Oh wow. And then we have

Victoria:

seven boutique girls. So

Chloe:

how do you take care of your instructors? What does that look like for you going from Orange Theory to this place? Have you thought about that or like Yes. What does that look like?

Victoria:

It's totally different. I do love the advantage of having a smaller team because it's closer knit. Mm-hmm. And you can really get. Just create like more of a deeper relationship with people whenever it's less amount. Um, I'm definitely working the first two months I think we're just getting everybody on the same page and getting the operations in order systems so that yes, so that everything is consistent. Um, but now that we've been open for about two to three months now we're talking about meetings. Yeah. So we're still very, very fresh. But we're talking about meetings so that way we can get together. I know you loved to run,

Chloe:

run Club would be cool with your

Kristen:

staff. Know they told me the other day that that's what I should do to meet a man is go to Ron Club. Oh, Justin

Chloe:

did. There were run clubs in.

Kristen:

See me at like five 30 in the morning. He's like, I know exactly what you should do. He's not on the news. He's not on the news. He's not on the news to be sent it to me of my friends. And people know I've been single for so long, and they're like, what do we need to do? Well, they've been here. Trash.

Victoria:

Yeah. Greenville is a difference. I don't even know if I, Greenville. We're trying. I tried trying so hard. Yeah, it's a different breed out here.

Kristen:

You should make like a business card of me or I should make a thing. And then when you're out, if you see a single guy to, he can like, like scan a QR code. QR code. Just like a black QR code. That's I, there's nothing The

Victoria:

QR code. That's smart. Yeah, you should. You're

Kristen:

single

Victoria:

too,

Kristen:

right?

Victoria:

I Are you single? Okay. Well actually I'm not, oh, what

Chloe:

were you at one point dating? You were a boyfriend. Orange theory. I was.

Kristen:

Wait, what guy?

Chloe:

The white guy. The white guy. That's the best way to describe it.

Kristen:

I feel like I'll remember this in a second. I feel like I, he's tall,

Victoria:

he

Kristen:

has

Victoria:

brown

Kristen:

hair, kind of

Chloe:

dorky. I don't think he dorky. I

Kristen:

thought he was handsome. I think I'm thinking of somebody else thought handsome. I think I'm thinking of somebody else. But he looks smart. He looks smart. You like smart guy.

He's a sweet, I like sweet guys.

Kristen:

Okay. Yeah, me too. So

it's not with, those are hard to find. You're not with

Kristen:

him. Okay. So who are with now?

Chloe:

I'm um, I said I was like your generation, like your age. I know we're not that much. He older than you, but I was like, you a man, y'all don't share. He's a sweet boy. He

Victoria:

is,

Kristen:

he's a sweet boy. He, he's a sea guy. Is he into fitness too? He's not. Oh, what is he into?

Victoria:

We'll go on walks together and he lifts, but he doesn't like fitness. He does it because he knows he needs it. Well, and

Kristen:

I, I think that's okay because as long as he does it to me, if you're not doing anything, we're not gonna get along because it's important to move your body or more like

Chloe:

you're like, I wanna do paleo, or I wanna do keto. Like for him to be like, all right, cool. We'll cook the same foods. But it's also like,'cause I've had to learn with Justin, I feel like. All three of us are like, we're like, let's get fit. Let's get strong. Justin will be like. He'll do it. But you know, then he is like, here's donuts. Like if I was getting donuts the other night or whatever. He loves some cookies, but he also like, I'm get board There has to a balance. I mean, I too, but in a relationship, yes. Balance. Yes, for sure. For sure. Also, we

Victoria:

like him,

Chloe:

we like how long's

Victoria:

the

Chloe:

relationship

Victoria:

been? Um, it's only been since April, so it's fairly new. Gosh, that well new but also five months is a long time in this,

Kristen:

that in 2025, if you've made it five months in dating, you are winning that part. And he hasn't done anything stupid yet. Yes. Like significantly

Victoria:

stupid. Yeah. Yeah. Not significantly. Yeah, not

Kristen:

significantly. Just the little things. Telling little, little things that guys are, but you know what, no one's perfect and the little things are okay, but the big things are when you literally take your whole body and slide it to the left. Like, whoop, that's, you're like, oh, okay. That's not for me. Yeah. Know It's a no. It's an absolute no. That's, that's good though. Good. You got a man. Yes. You're like, you know clearly. Now I wanna know. It looked like all of this has been a lot for like, it's been a lot.

It has been. So

Kristen:

what do you do to disconnect? Completely. Great question. That's what I'm curious about. Like literally no noise. Great

Victoria:

question. Yeah. Um, luckily I have the freedom to make my own schedules. So I really honestly plan it out. So I'll make sure that the boutique and the studio is a hundred percent covered. Mm-hmm. So that way I am able, and thankfully I have a great team that respects we all need time away and we all need balance. So important. Yes. So basically I'll just make sure that they're okay and then maybe just take a weekend. My boyfriend's long distance. So how

Chloe:

far? You don't have to say where, but how far?

Victoria:

Five and a half hours. Oh

Chloe:

wow. You really did it to yourself, Lord. Have you what?

Kristen:

I wouldn't mind that one, but though I could do long distance in a second with somebody as long as I could have weekend trips

Chloe:

for me. I do not do good with long. But hard. Some people are great at it. It's hard.

Kristen:

I would only do good because I've been by myself for so long, so I feel like it would be nice as long as I knew that they were gonna try as much. Exactly. He was reciprocated. It's very like, it has to be reciprocated with like, I'm gonna drive, you're gonna drive. Like that has to be equal. Exactly. Yes.

Victoria:

That's how it is. Yeah. Good. Um, for sure. Good,

Kristen:

good, good. So

Victoria:

it helped. That I'm able to kind of get away from Greenville. Yeah. Because I mean, it's fun to take classes at downtown Bar, but whenever you're a manager, it's definitely still, your head is still racing with for sure different work things. Yeah. When

Chloe:

you're looking and seeing everything, probably like merch, this, that, yes, yes. This, that, all the

Victoria:

things that need to be done. Yeah. Especially me, because I care a lot about my job. I wanna do a good job, so. All the to-do's are constantly running in my head, especially when I'm there. So sometimes I definitely get overstimulated, so that's when I know, okay, I need to go into the office, or I need to go on a walk, or I need to go on a run. Mm-hmm.

Something,

Victoria:

I don't know, just anything that I really enjoy. I read. Just ways to really kind of come back to a full cup, I think. Yeah. Helps me make sure that I don't get overloaded. No, it,

Chloe:

it's so great you said that like, um,'cause I feel like a lot of women get overstimulated.

Josh:

Mm-hmm.

Chloe:

And it's like you can be doing a lot of good things, right. But then. You can be doing too much of a good thing and your body just can't calm down in that rested state. And then that's how you start getting sick. Yep. Yes. That's how you snap at your friends. That's how you don't affects eat well. How's your entire life's? Yeah. And so I, I love that you're talking about that.'cause I remember. When I was your age, I was building my business and me and Kristen were really tight then. Mm-hmm. And you remember how I was at her age? Mm-hmm. I was a psychopath. Mm-hmm. Just work, work, work, work. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. There was no, we never went on a girls' trip together before when we were friends, we never did anything. It was just, we were literally

Kristen:

only focused on building and we did. Mm-hmm. Yeah. We literally built. Big money businesses, but lost ourselves. Yes, completely. In the meantime,

Victoria:

that's what we need to do for a decade and even like, especially whenever it first opened back in June and July, I found myself not being the same friend I was before the business opened. Mm-hmm. Like. I my phone, I need a work phone first of all. But yeah, girl,

Chloe:

get Anna. My message Anna, get her a work phone.

Kristen:

Sam.

Chloe:

Yes. My messages get so cool. I was like, wait, who's

Kristen:

Anna? Oh yeah. Saying Anna for second. I was like, Anna, I know. Well, I can

Chloe:

imagine,'cause even Justin, I know this is like different topic, but what he does, he manages 16 Wells Fargos, Uhhuh, and. This brand, this job gave him a separate phone, thank God, because all his other banks he worked, worked at, it was all his cell phone. Mm-hmm. Right. And when you have staff and client, all these people, and that's all going through your personal cell phone. Right.'cause now like when he's on vacation or takes a break, or like he'll get paternity leave with this bank, they'll take that phone. Mm-hmm. So I think, I'm glad you're already. Exploring that and thinking about it.'cause just seeing him. Yes. And then us too, when we built our business, I mean, it's dear, it's crazy, can't we get it all on our phones? You can't disconnect when you're all on that phone and it's like, you can put it on d and D, which I love. D and d. Um, but then, you know, eventually you're gonna have to open that green message and you're gonna have to see all those messages come through. Exactly. And that can even any

Victoria:

who

Chloe:

be worse

Kristen:

sometimes. Yeah. Yeah. It's a lot.

Victoria:

Yeah. Which I don't mind. It's just, I think I can only be one way. Like I can't sometimes respond to my friends as soon as they text me, and then eventually it just goes unseen and I forget that they even texted me. Yeah. So. I'm definitely, now that it's been open for a little bit, I'm definitely finding little pieces of me back.

Chloe:

Yeah. Yeah. So that I

Victoria:

can be the friend and the daughter that I always wanna be to my friends and family. But also

Kristen:

too, like your friends and your family should know that sometimes Yes. In life, you're going through it. Mm-hmm. Yes. And you ain't gonna text them back right away, and they're gonna be just. Fun. Yes. Because if like send her, send

Chloe:

friend Amazon gift card, send her something to get a coffee, you know, there's times and

Kristen:

even my family too, like I think that we need to also learn to give ourselves grace and know that. You know, the only person that was perfect was, you know, Jesus. Like, we're not gonna mm-hmm. You know? Yeah. We're not gonna be that person. Exactly. And you're at such

Chloe:

a beautiful age Yes. Where it's like, you're like full grown woman going into what the next steps are gonna be of your life. Right. Could marry this guy. Could not, may not, could. Yeah. Uhhuh could. Next step is gonna be, you know, in the next five years you could have your own business, you know, and so it's like you're also. I love that you said the grace part. Yeah, because I had none of that for myself girl. When I was your age, I was like, you gotta be perfect. You gotta do great. You gotta do a good job. Yep. Do a good job, Chloe. You gotta do a good job. And it's like you, you already being able to share with our viewers like that. You're learning, you've gotta detach, you're learning. You can still be great and manage and essentially run this business'cause that's what you're doing. But also knowing your friendships and relationships matter because mm-hmm. It is hard. When you're doing what you're doing and running a business, single mom. Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. Doing other jobs and stuff, like, you have to keep your yourself good. Yes. And your core relationships good. Right.'cause if you don't nurture yourself and nurture the relationships that nurture you. You're gonna end up with what? Like just your job and money and that's never gonna Yes, exactly. That's never gonna, that's not what peace is about. Mm-hmm. I just, I love that you're sharing that.'cause there's so many people, me and Kristen follow on socials that are between the age of, gosh, 22 to probably 36. Oh yeah. That are really like, they don't have a family yet and they don't, they don't know what they wanna do with their life. Hell, we don't know what we wanna do with our life. We're like, we. I'm

Kristen:

literally about to buy a sports car. I'm gonna trade my Kia in for a sports car. Are you, I think I'm going through a midlife crisis. No. You've, you've always loved

Chloe:

sports. Love, love sports, sports. And I'm gonna point my life

Kristen:

where I'm like doing what you love. I wanna do what I want to do. Exactly. I want to do what brings me joy right now. And me and Maria were just talking about this yesterday, like when you've been a mom for so long and you've literally been a mom, you focus so much on them. Mm-hmm. And like if everything else is good, but then once your kids grow up the tiniest bit, you're like. Okay. I need, okay, well what am I supposed to do now? Like, what am I gonna, what else do I have what I supposed do? Well, that's what you've taught me because her kids are 15 and 17.

Chloe:

And so it teaches me, like, normally I would never have my son sitting out there, old Chloe. I would've been so anxious, like, no, gotta get a babysitter. Gotta entertain. It's like, no, go with the flow. Like, yeah, it's okay. You can coexist and be a mom. Take your, take your kids with you. They can see your life. Yeah. Like you can, you can go, went to a concert last week. Mm-hmm. Like you can go, you gotta take

Kristen:

care of yourself. You, and that's the beauty of women of womanhood.

Chloe:

Every woman learns from the woman before them. And that's why I think it's like so important for. Like you were talking about community. Like I love, I'm, I'm sure she will have a community based type of wellness center. I don't know what it'll be, but it'll definitely be women ran, community based. Mm-hmm. Like that wholeness. Because you do, we all have a purpose that we mm-hmm. That we're on this earth for, you know what I mean? And you're not, you're not fully there yet, but you're on the journey. And I feel like all of us are really on the journey. Oh yeah. Yes, we are. Until you go every day. Yeah. And you don't have to have it all figured out. Mm-hmm. Let's see. Next question, man. This is, this is great. We're about, we're about at the, at the, oh, should we do the, let's see. Per you see the personal identity, I would love to know,

Kristen:

like mental health wise, where you have struggled. Mm-hmm. Ooh.'cause I know that I've seen you post things about it. I know that. Personally, I have struggled. Mm-hmm. And you've been there to be like girl, like you're an Aries as well. Yes. We're feelers.

Victoria:

We are feelers. We just, my cutthroat,

Chloe:

you're, I'm, I can't help it. That's so funny. My boyfriend,

Kristen:

she feels, she feels for me, the people that she loves the most. She feels for she will kill, you'll die. They'll all die. Um, but. I,

Chloe:

y'all heard it first

Kristen:

here. Oh my gosh. Any, but I would love to know you repeat the question. That's a good one for her. Um, where personally, like, you know, you've struggled. I mean, I know I've struggled with depression big time. I don't struggle with anxiety. I struggle with situational anxiety from time to time. Uh, but I'm not like an anxious person at baseline. But depression has definitely been something in my lifetime that has, you know. Been there a lot. Mm-hmm. So I'd love to know, like, I don't know if you have, if that's like, you know, if your family has

Victoria:

Yeah, I'm just

Kristen:

curious.

Victoria:

Um, oddly enough, my family has not really my family, they're amazing. Um, I think that I have growing up, or really just being in Greenville, I think by myself, probably like once I graduated college. Maybe like 24 to 25 ish. A lot of anxiety. Okay. Um, and I don't know exactly where it stems from, but definitely a lot of anxiety of just. Um, feeling uncertain, feeling like you don't really know, I guess Uncertain of the future mainly. Yeah. And I think a lot of it stems from social media.

Kristen:

Yeah.

Victoria:

Mm-hmm. So I don't really post as much as I used. To on social media. Mm-hmm. I enjoy having a private life. Amen. Just because, I don't know, I just love it. Yeah. I don't overthink as much. Whenever I do post a lot, that's whenever I get even more in my head and I'm like, oh, I wonder what this person thinks or what this person would think. And I think really it just comes down to me, again, caring so much about, I don't know, just the silliest things, honest, honestly, because it won't change. How my life is. It's kind of like that video that you've seen. It's like life whenever this person's this way and then life whenever this person's this way and it's the same.

Kristen:

Yeah,

Victoria:

it does not make a difference. No. So it doesn't, it's definitely been anxiety. Um, I've dealt with a little bit of loneliness. Mm-hmm. So I'm not single now, but there have been periods where I have been, I dated someone for a really long time whenever I was in college. So when we broke up, I was definitely really sad. Yeah. And lonely. Which I was grateful to have the Orange Theory community because I got really close with them. And that's exactly what happened. Um. But definitely a little sad loneliness. So I can relate whenever people are in seasons of their life where they just don't really feel like they add meaning to others' lives. Um, so I really value the fitness community and each and every one of you guys that I've been able to meet because again, like you add a sense of purpose, like, okay, I may not go home to someone. Tonight and eat dinner with them. But at least I help someone do something that they never really imagined themselves doing today. Mm-hmm. At least I gave someone a hug that maybe really needed a hug. Like, I remember a specific time whenever you're having a bad day and um, you just kind of cried and I just gave you a hug and I was like, it's okay. You know, like we all, yeah. Feel this way sometimes. Um, I think being an empathetic person is a struggle because you feel so deeply.

Chloe:

I can't imagine.

Victoria:

Yeah. I remember asking God one day, I was like, oh my gosh, why do I feel, why did you give me this so deeply? Like it's,

it feels like a curse in some ways, but such a

Kristen:

beautiful gift.

Yes, exactly. It is like

Kristen:

exhausting for sure. Yes. But it's also such a gift.

It is such a gift.'cause

Kristen:

people open up to us and tell us. So many things and everything because. They can feel that we're exactly a best.

It's given

Victoria:

me the best, but it is a lot take on people

Kristen:

for sure. I think

Victoria:

if I wasn't as empathetic or um, just carry people's emotions the way that I do, I don't think I would have some people, and I think my life would be totally different. Yeah. Who knows if I'd be here today.

Chloe:

Yeah.

Victoria:

You know? Um, so it's a gift and a curse. Yeah, definitely. Yeah, it's definitely, sure. Y'all are very similar on that. Yes,

Chloe:

we are. Because I'm very much like I can, that's why like social media, I can post and have people be cutthroat to me and let it go. Exactly. See,

Kristen:

that doesn't phase me like I feel like. I am very empathetic, but as I've gotten older, I, I don't let people get to me. Mm-hmm. If that makes sense. Mm-hmm. My teaches you

Chloe:

less. It does what you need to

Kristen:

hold onto and what you just literally, like, if I let everything get to me, I would've, we would've all gone crazy by now. Mm-hmm. You know what I'm saying? Like every day there's something, every single damn day. Yeah, exactly. But gosh, she's wise for 26, isn't she? I love it. And that's

Chloe:

point, that's that's, I I love that. I feel like that's a part of. Even my mission is helping women to do it better. And I've always told even my husband this, like, when I mentor women and help them, I want them to do it better and quicker. Mm-hmm. And with less pain. Um, because yeah, I mean, and just watching the stuff shes been through, like, I'm like, I'm so grateful that I have her. Right. So I don't not, it's li it's not about, everything's not about choices too. Life is gonna just happen to you and, and bad things are gonna happen to good people all the time. Yeah. Right. But it's about watching those people not just be like, oh, I went through it and just pushed through. But like building a, watching them build a resilience and watching them still be feminine and you know, still kind, but also being like. Yeah, we're done with that actually today, you know, and so literally, yeah, but you know, the loneliness, you know, I'm a serial monogamist, obviously. I'm on my third kid. I'm very much a relationship girl, and yes, I've had to watch my mom, like my biological mom be pretty much single. On and off my whole life. Um, and the loneliness that caused her and the bad decisions that she made mm-hmm. When she was lonely, tough in things that you can do. I've seen her do it. Yes. Like, and so I think it's very brave for both of you.'cause I just know I think about her all the time being alone and it drives me crazy, but I'm like, there's nothing I can do about it. But like, you know, just thinking like there's so many choices y'all could make. That are not good when you are by selves. Like, I can't even imagine from, there's

Kristen:

so much temptation. Yeah. I mean, even like, I mean, I've been talking to Chase about this a little bit. Like

Chloe:

that's her oldest son.

Kristen:

Yeah. There's no part of me, like, I want a husband, I want a partner. Mm-hmm. You know? I'm not going to entertain men who just want certain things. Why would I do that? There's literally no point. It's a waste of my time. It's a waste of their time.

Josh:

Right.

Kristen:

And I, no one ever feels good afterwards. Yeah. You just feel gross. Like I don't even wanna be around those kind of people. Yeah. You know what I'm saying? Exactly. But like you said, when you're lonely, girl, my phone will be blown up. You know? Like I'm a good looking girl. There's guys who are saying all kinds of stuff to me, there's so much temptation, but it's like. You have to fight that. I have to fight that loneliness every single day. You do. You have, you know what I what I'm saying, but it's never, it always, it's just like, no, I'm good. I'm gonna go draw on my porch. I'm gonna do something different. I'm gonna call a friend.

Yes, call

Kristen:

a friend.'cause it never, like, it will literally put you those things that come in and try to get you. Will make you depressed. They will make you, so what are, it won't keep you up at all. What are

Chloe:

some things that you do? Like you said, like when you're feeling that state For people that may be lonely?

Kristen:

Yes.

Chloe:

Or in that season of life, because I feel like a lot of people don't talk about this. Yeah. Like there's, I'm still there. If there's women watching that are feeling lonely, what are things you do to. Set yourself over at the bottom, but to keep yourself, so like yesterday I went to the beach by myself. Yes. I thought you said for a little

Kristen:

bit. I went to the beach for a couple hours by myself. I went shopping, just laid on the beach. Good. Um, I also will phone a friend. You know, I FaceTime my friends a lot. I call people I'm terrible. I FaceTime. I know, but you know what I'm saying. Like, I will text a friend, I'll do anything. Thing. Yeah. I honestly will pick up a shift at work. I'm like, if I'm not doing anything else, I can make some money. There's so many things you love

Chloe:

your community on the floor, on your, one of your best, best friends. They're good people, assistant manager there, which is nice. So, I

Kristen:

mean, it's hard, but once you realize that it's not worth it, then you just choose to do things that are, you know, we all. You know, make, we all do what we're gonna do, but mm-hmm. It's good to choose the right thing. It's as much as possible. Good habits for say, creating good, creating healthy habits. Yes. Creating habits. Loneliness is a, it's changing your mind mindset. Yes.

Victoria:

Try not to look from a place of lack.

Kristen:

Yes. I think

Victoria:

just sit down and. Think about the blessing it is to be able to go to the beach and spend time with yourself. Exactly, exactly. You know, not everyone has that. I always like thing being thankful for the season. Yes, exactly. Like this is a season. Yes. It's not gonna last forever. It's temporary. Mm-hmm. Um, I remember last Christmas time I was just sitting on my couch in front of my Christmas tree with a little bit of wine and I was like, it's completely okay that I am sitting here right now by myself because it's not gonna be forever. Mm-hmm.

Josh:

You know,

Victoria:

in 10 years I'm sure I'll have a husband, I'll have kids in May life, I'll wanna get away at some point. Yeah. So I'm just. Soak in. Yes. You'll this season by myself. You'll, yeah. Yes. You'll, you're like, yeah, you'll, yeah. Yeah. I think just AK in changing your perspective, the spective of it

Kristen:

for sure. Yeah. I love it. Is really important. I love

Chloe:

it. Yeah. The self-talk. Mm-hmm. Like the positive self-talk is so big, like,'cause I'm naturally not a positive self talker to myself. I'm really great with other people, but to myself, I'll be like. You suck. You need to do better. You know, just that like perfectionism. Yeah. Trait. And so saying it out loud, my life coach actually, oh, she has, we have the same life coach. Um, her name's Angel, and she's an angel. Aw. That's 10 outta 10. Recommend her if you ever need a life coach. But she used to tell me when I first started going to her, like I would say things and she'd be like, you cannot say that out loud. Yeah. Like you feel, I don't care if you feel it, you gotta say the opposite thing. Literally. Say that out loud. It's gonna create like wave paths in your brain. Exactly. And you're gonna feel that way, magnifies. So even if you don't feel happy sitting alone in the dark, looking at your Christmas tree, drinking, probably not the best wine ever. Like you have to say out loud. It's okay. Yeah. Yes. It's not gonna be this way forever because nothing is. Forever. Right? Everything changes, nothing. Stay stays the same. And so yeah, let's close it out. This was great. It was been great. Happy you came on here with us, Victoria, so I know it's been so nice. Know what do you wanna leave women with on this episode? You know, there may be women that are. Fighting their own mental battles, mental health battles, maybe women that are trying to build a dream, maybe women that are figuring it out and they're on the journey. It's what it sounds like you're doing right now. Mm-hmm. What do you wanna really leave our viewers with? Um,

Victoria:

I would say just. To come back to the reason why you are doing whatever you're doing, whatever, whatever reason you are really trying to pursue with whatever goal, make sure that you are coming back to yourself.

Josh:

Mm-hmm. You're

Victoria:

coming back to who you are. And you are moving as that person in every action. Even whenever you are stressed or whenever you're feeling down, whenever you're not feeling like who you really are, just remember who you are and always show up as that person, um, and have grace along the way.

Josh:

Yeah,

Victoria:

because bad stuff, like he said is gonna happen. Um, but that doesn't mean that it pulls you along down with, with it. You just kind of pick yourself up and keep going. Keep going because every challenge is only gonna make or break you. Thank God for fitness, endorphins and domine.

Chloe:

Seriously. I mean, that's me real. That's what I love. That's it makes me wanna

Kristen:

get on the treadmill right now. I mean, that's the best part about fitness and sex

Chloe:

is endorphins and dopamine. I'll die on that hill. I have the

Kristen:

other, I'll die.

Chloe:

It's literally how dopamine's release is when you have sex. He knows that he's got three kids. We're all here, don't have one. You gotta

Kristen:

have the other,

Chloe:

I mean, you need, we have both do. That would be nice. Know we're, we're not gonna go there with that guy. He had to go literally like, oh gosh. That's so funny. Cece my five. She knew about her ex-boyfriend. She asked. She asked about what happened, asked about him. I said he made

Kristen:

choices he shouldn't have made. He should have chose different for himself. People don't choose right her the other day. And she just

Chloe:

looked at you and she was like, oh. And I was like, yeah, he had to go. And you gotta make good choices. Like we gotta teach you the ways, girl, we ain't holding onto these people for longer. We making the cut.

Kristen:

We're not

Chloe:

okay. That is our episode with Victoria. Thank you so much. Thank you for having me. Wonderful guys. Enjoyed chatting with you. Yeah. Check out Ke bar Greenville. Please don't blow up her personal messages. She makes. She probably will not answer them. No, but go see best at the studio. She will be there. There's really cute, uh, fitness gear. I know. Kristen's gonna go check it out. Oh, I'm definitely gonna

Kristen:

go. Yes, for sure. I'm excited. Support.

Chloe:

Not just local businesses, but women. Amen. Own spaces. Amen. Show up for women. Compliment women. Yes. Get yourselves involved if you're feeling depressed or lonely. Get out in the community. Go out for a walk like community. Everything. Something. Literally, you just gave everything. You gave such incredible tips. So thank you so much. We'll see you guys next week. Bye bye.