More Movement Please

Day 7 of My 1,000-Member Patreon Challenge

1,000-Member Patreon Challenge Header

What does it look like to grow a Patreon community? Here’s my boots from the ground answer.

Okay let’s just rip the band-aid off. 🩹

On Friday, August 21, 2026, I launched a 30-day challenge to grow the More Movement Please Patreon community (aka Movers and Shakers) to 1,000 members. Thirty days, one thousand people. An absolutely unhinged goal, and spoiler alert – I knew this going in.

Today is day 7.

We have 28 members.

Twenty. Eight. Not 280. Not 2,800. Twenty-eight real, wonderful humans who believed in my fitness podcast and this movement enough to hand over their email address, and I love every single one of them! But, let’s be honest about the math. At this pace I am nowhere close to 1,000 by day 30.

I could hide that number. I’m not going to. I built this whole brand on real talk and proof over polish, so here’s the proof: this is hard, growth is slow, and I’m doing it in public anyway.

I’m even doing a YouTube Shorts challenge about this and repurposing my videos on Facebook and Instagram. Fun fact, this is all by design. As I told my head coach Rhonda this morning after Tabata – I was fairly certain we would NOT get to 1,000 members in 30 days. But, I’m trying anyway and there’s a very intentional reason behind this!

Why I’m even doing this

More Movement Please is the show I record from my car. I’ve done several episodes with Rhonda Goode, a certified fitness instructor with 14 years of experience under her belt. She’s the head coach, I’m the hype woman, and together we’re building a Patreon community around it called Movers and Shakers. Two tiers, $5 and $15 a month, real coaching content and community behind the paywall.

This isn’t a vanity project. It’s the pillar of my personal brand with an actual product, actual community, and actual life-change potential behind it. So when I decided to go all in on Movement in 2025, launching a podcast and ultimately a community ended up being part of that plan.

I set a stupid-big goal on purpose. I wanted a number so audacious that even a “failure” would still mean real growth. Twenty-eight members in a week isn’t the headline I wanted, but it’s more members than I had a week ago!

What actually happens when people launch a Patreon

Before I hit publish on this challenge, I went digging. Not for cheerleading, for real numbers and real advice from people who’ve actually done this. Here’s what I found.

You don’t need a stadium of fans, you need 1,000 true ones. Back in 2008, Wired founding editor Kevin Kelly wrote an essay called “1,000 True Fans” that basically predicted the entire creator economy. His argument: you don’t need millions of followers to make a living as an artist. You need roughly 1,000 people who genuinely believe in you and will show up, pay up, and stick around.

My 1,000-member goal isn’t random. It’s a direct nod to that idea, and it’s a good reminder that this isn’t about chasing viral overnight blowups – though I would LOVE for this to happen. The truth is, this membership drive experiment is about finding your true fans, even if that only happens 28 at a time.

Podcast Patreons genuinely work, and there’s data to prove it. Patreon reported that more than 40,000 podcasters earned money on their platform and pulled in a combined $350 million in 2023 alone. Podcasting is one of the biggest earning categories on the entire site. So no, I’m not chasing a fantasy. I’m just early in a race that other podcasters have already proven is winnable.

Keep your tiers stupid simple. Eric Silver, a podcast producer who’s run a Patreon for eight years and counting, broke down his approach for Descript: people mostly want two things from a membership, bonus content and hearing their name shouted out on the show. He warns against piling on extras like Discords, behind-the-scenes videos, and research notes because it turns into overload for you and for them.

Rhonda and I already run lean with our $5 and $15 tiers, and honestly, reading this made me feel good about not overcomplicating it further. We initially had two more paid tiers, but recognized that this was too many for now. We’ll revisit those two again in the future once it pops off.

Promise less than you think you can deliver. The team at Resonate Recordings put it bluntly: late bonuses kill member retention faster than almost anything else. Their advice is to launch with fewer tiers and fewer perks than you think you can handle, then add more once you actually know your members and your own bandwidth.

Noted. Rhonda and I are keeping our promises boring and consistent on purpose.

A real launch pitch beats a passive announcement. Patreon’s own creator guide says the strongest launches include a short, personal video explaining the what and the why, a clear call to action, and repeating that CTA everywhere: bio, show notes, socials, email footer. Weekday launches also tend to outperform weekend ones.

I did some of this. I clearly need to do more of it, louder and more often.

Launching a Patreon is really an exercise in valuing your own work. Writer Cherie Hu spent a year running her own Patreon page and wrote about the biggest lesson she took from it: starting a membership isn’t just a business move, it’s a crash course in learning to ask for what your work is worth and actually believing you deserve it. 

Twenty-eight members so far is my signal that people already think this is worth being a part of the community. I’m letting that sit with me today.

Failure the first time doesn’t mean failure forever. My podcast pal Joe Casabona’s honest account of “My Failed Patreon Experiment” describes launching a Patreon after hitting 50,000 downloads, overpromising, underdelivering, and watching it flop. Years later, a relaunched and much simpler membership actually worked. Slow starts and even outright failures aren’t the end of the story. They’re just data.

I’m taking this information with me to the bank…and I will keep working on making this the best community I can for the highest good of all involved.

What I’m changing for the rest of this challenge

Based on all of that, here’s what shifts starting today:

  • More personal video asks, repeated more often. Not a one-and-done announcement post. A real, “hey, here’s why this matters” pitch, said out loud, more than once, on more platforms.
  • Keeping our two tiers exactly as simple as they are. No new perks, no scope creep. Just consistent delivery on what we already promised. In fact, we might streamline them even further.
  • Leaning into the true fan mindset instead of the raw number. 1,000 true fans is still the goal on the wall. But I’m measuring day to day by whether the right people are finding us, not just the ticker going up.
  • Being loud about the real numbers the whole way. You’re going to get updates on this. All of them. Even the ones that sting a little.

The ask

If you’ve been thinking about joining Movers and Shakers, today’s the day. $0 gets you in the door, $5 gets you exclusive episodes, and $15 gets you the deeper coaching content from coach Rhonda. Twenty-eight people already said yes. I’d love for you to join us too!

And if you’ve got tips of your own for growing a membership community, I want to hear them. Head here to give me feedback. This challenge is public because I want to learn in front of you, not just report back at the end.

What 5 folks I spoke to shared as advice about launching a Patreon

Before I started digging into all the data and creator interviews above, I asked around and heard from five people who wanted to share their advice about launching a Patreon. So here’s what they told me, straight from them:

Anchor Patreon to a Defined Brand Narrative

I help authors and creators launch platforms like Patreon through proven brand development and media strategies built over 30 years. My approach centers on consistent messaging that connects with the right audience at the right time.

Brand essence comes first. Define your core values, mission, and vision before opening any doors to supporters so your tiers and updates feel cohesive from day one.

I used this exact process when building memorable author websites and persuasive media kits that generated press coverage. Those same steps turn a Patreon into a natural extension of an established narrative instead of a disconnected add-on.

Marilyn Heywood Paige, Principal, Marilyn Paige

Keep One Simple Tier, Evolve From Feedback

The process began once I had accumulated a small but active following on my website and content platforms. One of the first big changes is: no one joins your Patreon just to be a Patreon – they join to know the value they will receive from a streamlined, simple system. Thus, I stuck with the basic tier, which offered one reward and one piece of content, with no other vague offerings.

Also, it helped to think of Patreon as a continuation of the content you are making, rather than something else you make. In each post or episode where I talked about additional material, I would mention it without making any special effort, so that people knew I was talking about a Patreon. The initial supporters were mostly those already familiar with what I create, just looking for motivation to join.

If I could do things differently now, I would limit myself to the minimum at the start and shape future tiers based on the behavior of those who joined before me.

Asawar Ali, CEO, Link Building Agency

Set Clear Tradeoffs, Launch Few Authentic Tiers

Building a dedicated community that is willing to invest in your work comes down to one fundamental principle: radical clarity about what you offer and why it matters to them. When we built Doggie Park Near Me into a directory covering over 6,300 dog parks across all 50 states, we learned that people don’t just support platforms; they support the mission and the authenticity behind them.

My number one tip for launching a membership program like Patreon is to clearly communicate the tradeoffs of your tier structure to your audience from day one. You can’t be everything to everyone, especially when resources are tight. We prioritize our work by focusing on what our users care about most, like fencing and water availability, rather than trying to build every feature at once. Apply this to your Patreon by launching with only two or three highly manageable tiers. If you overpromise exclusive content, you will quickly burn out.

We’ve built deep trust through our direct, real dog and real human reviews on Auggie’s Blog. You must establish that same authentic connection on your podcast and website before you ask for financial support. Before launching, we suggest researching your audience’s exact pain points so you can align your membership rewards with their actual needs. Invite your listeners into the building process. Share the behind-the-scenes planning on your podcast, explain how their support will fund specific projects, and keep your communication channels wide open. When people feel like partners in your building process rather than just subscribers, they will gladly back you. It’s all about delivering genuine value, setting realistic boundaries, and keeping your promises to the community you serve.

Rina Gutierrez, Part-time Marketing Coordinator, Doggie Park Near Me

Build Trust With Clear, Simple, Valuable Tiers

Launching a subscription or membership platform successfully comes down to one core ingredient: building trust through clear communication from day one. At Equipoise Coffee, we’ve learned that you can’t just ask people to buy in; you must show them exactly what they are getting and why it matters. Whether you are selling freshly roasted beans or digital content, your audience needs to feel the value immediately.

When we established our business in 2021, we realized that people don’t just want a product; they want to be part of a community. If you are launching a Patreon, you need to treat your membership tiers with the same care we use when sourcing single-origin options like our Mexican La Laja Honey or Colombian Supremo. Each tier must have a distinct, clear value. We always explain the tradeoffs to our stakeholders and customers directly. If a certain tier requires more of your time, be transparent about that. Honesty builds the strongest communities.

Another tip is to focus on education and exclusive access. We connect with our audience through an educational blog that explains the science of achieving a smooth, less bitter roast profile. For your Patreon, offer behind-the-scenes insights that make your supporters feel like true partners in your creative process. Do not overcomplicate your rewards at the start. When resources are tight, prioritize delivering one or two high-quality benefits rather than promising the world. Keep your tiers simple, communicate consistently, and let your unique philosophy shine through. That is how you turn casual listeners into dedicated patrons who will support your podcast for the long haul.

Rory Keel, Owner, Equipoise Coffee

Start Small; Prioritize Engagement Over Subscriber Count

Start small with your initial founding-member group. This is the best advice I can provide. You don’t need dozens of membership tiers ready to go right away. Build them as needed. By starting small with say 25-50 founding members, you’ll have honest feedback, predictable conversation, and less work. I noticed engagement remained above 70% throughout a few community first projects as long as the member count stayed small during the first 90 days. Community momentum is built through interaction, not the number of subscribers.

Community growth will often fizzle out when rewards are no longer able to be produced. Users join your community for the access, consistency, and connection. They leave when those reward whispers become less frequent. Fulfillment is much easier by only offering a single membership tier for the first couple months. You’ll also avoid large confusion. Additionally, retention was higher when promises were easy to keep each week. Take as much time as you need. 40 engaged members will bring more value to your business than 400 subscribers that never participate.

Cyrus Kennedy, Chairman & Acting CEO, The Ad Firm

Onwards and upwards my friends. Have you worked out today? 💪

My First Time at Gen Con: Is It Worth $1,000?

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Let’s just get right into it. Gen Con cost me and my husband $1,000 to attend. That’s two 4-day badges and five nights in a hotel, plain and simple. No gas. No food. No souvenirs. Just the price of being there.

$360.80 for the badges. $629.88 for the hotel. That comes out to $990.68, close enough to round up to a nice, terrifying $1,000.

And that doesn’t even touch the other money we spent to get there. Gas, food, and all the little bits and bobs added up to around $400 more. So really, this trip cost us close to $1,400 when it was all said and done.

Was it worth it? I asked myself that question the entire time I was there. Let’s break it down.

What Even Is Gen Con?

If you’re new to the tabletop world, you might not know that Gen Con actually got its name from the Geneva Convention. The very first one was held in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and they shortened it to “Gen Con.” Now it’s held annually in Indianapolis, and it’s the largest tabletop gaming convention in the United States.

We’re talking big numbers here. More than 74,000 people showed up this year. There were nearly 28,000 individual events happening across four days, everything from tournaments to demos to full on role playing campaigns. Vendors had more than 3,000 games on display, and that’s barely a dent in what’s out there. 

I read somewhere that BoardGameGeek has over 150,000 games cataloged. I had no idea the hobby was this massive until I walked through those doors.

The convention brings in something like $80 million to the Indianapolis area every year, just from people eating out and booking hotels. That number doesn’t even count what people spend on the games themselves.

Next year is Gen Con’s 60th anniversary. And yes, we’re already planning to go back…but we’re going to do things differently. More on that in a moment. Let’s first look at how the funds for this year stacked up.

Breaking Down the $1,000

My husband and I went to Gen Con for our 20th wedding anniversary. Nothing says “romantic getaway” quite like standing in a convention hall for four days straight, right? But that’s exactly what we wanted. It was so “us-coded” it felt like fate that our travel day there literally fell ON our wedding anniversary.

Here’s how the badges and hotel broke down:

  • Two 4-day badges: $360.80
  • Five nights in a hotel: $629.88 (We stayed at Red Roof Inn because they are the most accommodating for our Pampered Pomchis)
  • Total for badges and lodging: $990.68

On top of that, we spent roughly $400 on gas, meals, and random extras during our trip. So if you’re planning your own trip and budgeting just for “getting in the door,” know that the real number will end up being higher once you factor in food, travel, and any souvenirs you pick up along the way.

The Math I Was Doing the Whole Drive There

I’ll be honest. On the drive up, I kept running the numbers in my head. A thousand dollars is a lot of money. My husband and I talked it through in the car, and one thing kept coming up. For that same amount, we could have bought 10-20 board games instead. Maybe more.

So which one wins? A bunch of games we could play over and over for years, or four days at a convention that would be over before we knew it?

There’s no easy answer. I’m the kind of person who thrives being around other people who love the same things I love, so my answer is going to be a little biased. But I also think that’s worth admitting up front. If you’re someone who gets more joy out of owning things than experiencing things, Gen Con might not hit the same way for you.

One thing I didn’t expect going in was how much this trip would spark ideas about doing more gaming closer to home. More on that later too.

Getting There and Getting In

We drove up on Wednesday, July 29th, which happened to be our actual anniversary. We checked into our hotel and immediately went to pick up our badges.

Quick tip if you’re planning your first trip: you might want to choose will call over having your badges mailed to you. We’d been having mail issues at our house, and there was a rumor going around that if your badges didn’t show up, you’d have to pay full price again to replace them. Not worth the risk.

The will call line wrapped around the inside of the building. I mean it wrapped around every hallway. It looked like it would take hours, but the whole thing was surprisingly well organized. We were in and out in under an hour.

Parking is its own adventure. If you’re going Monday through Friday, the public parking facility across from the convention center is reserved for state employees only. That knocked out our first choice completely. My advice? Leave earlier than you think you need to, and have a backup parking plan ready to go.

Some folks swear by parking apps, but we opted to not use those this time. Might change our mind next time. We’ll see though because I heard a lot of folks using apps spent way more than we did…

What the Days Actually Looked Like

Once we had our badges, we spent that first evening just getting the lay of the land. We walked through the convention center, over to the J.W. Marriott where more gaming events were happening, and through the block party.

We also had one of the worst meals of ever that night. We tried some noodles that looked and smelled amazing. They were not amazing. I talked to other people in line who felt the same way. Lesson learned. Don’t judge a food stand by its aromas. Ha!

Thursday was when things really kicked off. We spent the day walking through the exhibit hall, seeing games laid out and set up in person for the first time. That’s something you don’t usually get to do when you’re buying board games online. You just see a box and some photos. Here, you could actually see how a game looked on the table before deciding if you wanted it.

I also discovered there are fitness themed tabletop games. One guy had built workouts around a Dungeons and Dragons style theme, and it got me thinking. I’ve already started building a fitness game with my instructor Rhonda using a deck of cards, and after seeing this, we’re adding a set of dice to the mix too. I’ll share more about that soon in our fitness community for our Movers and Shakers.

Friday and Saturday were more of the same, working our way through the rest of the exhibit hall. I started paying attention to something I’d never noticed before: the artwork. Some of these games have absolutely stunning art on the boards and cards, and I found myself getting genuinely excited just looking at it.

By Sunday, we were done. We checked out early (even though it meant we were still out that night’s hotel fees!) and headed home so I could start recovering. Monday morning, I was back at the gym for Zumba and low impact cardio and toning, because apparently four days on my feet wasn’t enough movement for one week.

The Food Situation (Bring Your Own Next Time)

I’m not going to sugarcoat this. We ate terribly the whole trip, and it cost us a lot more than it should have.

We paid $28 for that first night’s nasty noodles. We paid $40 for two burgers and fries that were honestly some of the worst burgers I’ve ever had. When you get busy running from event to event, grabbing whatever food is closest starts to feel like your only option, even when you know it’s not a great one.

Next year, we’re bringing a cooler. Snacks, drinks, maybe even some simple meals we can pack ahead of time. It’ll save us money and probably a stomachache or two.

I’m not a diet girly and I don’t believe in restriction for the sake of restriction. But there’s a difference between enjoying food and just eating whatever’s fastest because you didn’t plan ahead. Next time, we WILL plan ahead.

More Movement Please!

Gen Con is definitely a walking event. A lot of walking. Between the convention center, the hotel, and everywhere in between, I recorded over 36,000 steps across the four days, and I know that number is low. I forgot to turn on my tracker more than once, including our very first night there.

I hit at least 10,000 steps every single day, and one day I broke 12,000 before I even remembered to check. Add in the stairs at our hotel, which didn’t have an elevator, and my body definitely knew it had been to Gen Con.

This mattered so much to me because a year ago, there’s no way I could have done this trip and enjoyed it the way I did. I would have been in pain the entire time, if I could have handled it at all.

Walking through that convention center, I noticed other attendees struggling. I talked to a few people whose ankles were swollen from all the standing and walking, and it took me right back to being that version of myself. I’ve been there. I know what that feels like.

This time was different because I’ve put in the work. I hydrated like it was my job, because trust me, you go through water fast when you’re walking that much. I wore my Asics the entire trip and tested Dr. Scholl’s sports insoles for a couple of days to see if they made a difference. Honestly, I couldn’t tell much of a difference with the Asics I had, so I saved the insoles for my Zumba shoes instead.

If you’re planning your first Gen Con and you’re not used to being on your feet for long stretches, start building that up now. It’ll change your whole experience.

An Interesting Twist…

After all that debate about board games versus experiences, here’s the kicker. We didn’t buy a single board game the entire trip. Not one. We only played two games total, a Dungeons and Dragons style game and a round of Star Realms.

So if you’re measuring the trip purely by “games purchased” or “games played,” it might sound like a bust. But that’s not where the value actually was for us.

The value was in the people. You can walk up to almost anyone at Gen Con and ask what their favorite game is, and they light up. They want to tell you. If you mention wanting to learn something new, people get excited to teach you instead of getting frustrated explaining the rules. That kind of energy is rare, and it’s contagious.

It also got me and my husband talking about starting a regular board game night closer to home. We already have friends who host game nights once a month, and honestly, that kind of regular connection might scratch the same itch Gen Con does, minus the flight and hotel bill. We’re looking into local game store event calendars now to see what’s out there.

So, Is It Worth $1,000?

For us, yes. But I want to be honest about the whole picture before you decide for yourself.

Remember, we spent closer to $1,400 for a five day trip. That’s a lot of money, and it’s not a decision to make lightly.

What you get for it is an experience unlike anything else. Tens of thousands of people who love the same weird, wonderful hobby you do, all in one place, all excited to share it with you. You get to see games in person before you buy them. You get to watch people demo things you’ve never even heard of. And if you’ve been working on your health like I have, you get proof of just how far you’ve come, one step at a time.

We’re already planning to go back for the 60th anniversary next year, and we’re doing it smarter this time. Better parking plan. Packed food. And honestly, if any gear or wellness brands out there want to sponsor a fitness minded first timer turned repeat attendee, my inbox is open. I’d love to partner with someone who wants to help more people move their bodies, even at a gaming convention.

A Few Quick Tips If You’re Going for the First Time

  • Choose will call over mailed tickets if there’s any chance your mail could be unreliable
  • Check parking restrictions ahead of time
  • Leave earlier than you think you need to each day of the convention
  • Hydrate more than feels necessary. You’ll need it
  • Break in comfortable shoes before you go, and consider insoles if you’re prone to foot pain
  • Budget for food separately from your badge and hotel costs, or better yet, pack some of your own
  • Don’t stress about having a perfect plan. You genuinely cannot fully prepare for your first Gen Con, and that’s okay

Gen Con pushed me physically more than I expected, cost me more than I planned, and gave me more than I bargained for. I’ll take that trade every time.

Onwards and upwards, my friends. Have you worked out today?

Gen Con’s Numbers Report – Their Press Release on the Event: COME HELIOS OR HIGH WATER, GEN CON ATTENDEES FLOODED DOWNTOWN INDY FOR THE BEST FOUR DAYS IN GAMING™

Gen Con Indy 2026 drew a record-breaking, sold-out crowd of over 74,000 attendees and nearly 800 vendors.The annual four-day convention generated an estimated economic impact of more than $83.5 million for local businesses.

INDIANAPOLIS (August 4, 2026) — Gen Con, the largest and longest-running tabletop gaming convention in North America, packed the halls of the Indiana Convention Center (ICC) last week with over 74,000 gamers and fans, setting an all-time attendance record and generating an estimated economic impact of more than $83.5 million for Indianapolis hotels, restaurants, and other local businesses.

“We were proud to welcome a record-setting 74,000 attendees from more than 45 countries this week for Gen Con, generating more than $83.5 million in economic impact for our city,” said Chris Gahl, Chief Business Officer with Visit Indy. “Together with the Gen Con team, we look forward to continuing the momentum into 2027 and the opportunity to grow the event into the expanding Indiana Convention Center.”

A severe Saturday evening thunderstorm and tornado warning caused leaking inside the ICC, but water falling from the ceiling couldn’t put a damper on high spirits, with staff responding quickly to ensure safety and make repairs. Attendees returned to their scheduled activities once the tornado warning was lifted, with minimal disruption to convention operations.

“Even through construction and thunderstorms, Gen Con 2026 was bigger and better than ever, with a record-breaking number of attendees gathering in Indianapolis for The Best Four Days in Gaming,” said Gen Con President David Hoppe. “We can’t thank Indy enough for hosting us, and we’re already looking forward to our 60th anniversary convention in an expanded Indiana Convention Center next year.”

Held each year since 1968, Gen Con gathers fans of board games, card games, roleplaying games, cosplay, and pop culture to play, shop, celebrate, and connect over a shared passion for gaming.

During the four days of the convention, attendees browsed and shopped the wares of nearly 800 game publishers and vendors and participated in nearly 28,000 events and activities, including a wide range of gaming sessions and tournaments, artist and author appearances, film screenings, musical performances, and the annual Gen Con Costume Contest.

New this year, event programming expanded to Victory Field, including a Dungeon Crawler Carl meetup with bestselling writer Matt Dinniman, who attended the convention all weekend long to play games with fans, livestream a full play of the new Dungeon Crawler Carl RPG from Renegade Game Studios, and more.

Additional marquee events at this year’s convention included a drone light show over Victory Field on Saturday night hosted by Wizards of the Coast, a Dungeons & Dragons takeover of the Indiana Repertory Theater that transformed the historic establishment into “D&D Tower,” and a Lord of the Rings-themed “Hobbiton Summer Festival” Magic: The Gathering activation in Lucas Oil Stadium.

Attendees also flocked to Gen Con’s outdoor Block Party activation on South Street. The outdoor, open-to-the-public festival featured dozens of local food trucks alongside Gen Con’s local food and beverage partners, including Sun King Brewery, HotBox Pizza, Daniels’ Vineyard, Helm Coffee, Island Noodles, and Prime 47.

Gen Con partners with charities each year to raise funds and spotlight the work of the selected nonprofit organizations. This year, attendees helped raise nearly $50,000 for Super Heroines, Etc. and Immigrant Welcome Center. Gen Con has raised over half a million dollars for charity since 2003.

Make-A-Wish® and Gen Con partnered to grant the wish of Eleanor, a teen who dreamed of attending Gen Con 2026. Eleanor attended the convention in Indy this year with her parents and sister, where the family was treated to four days of unforgettable memories and extra-special amenities and perks, making the ultimate wish of a young storyteller and tabletop gaming fan born with a critical heart condition come true.

“We’re grateful to the Gen Con team for creating such a special experience for Eleanor,” said Caitlyn Haddenhorst, Vice President of Mission Delivery for Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana. “She and her family enjoyed attending Opening Ceremonies, meeting Matt Mercer, attending the Costume Contest, and experiencing True Dungeon, among many other highlights over an unforgettable four days.”

Gen Con will return to Indianapolis from August 5-8, 2027, for its 60th edition. Next year’s convention will feature additional event and exhibition space from the 143,500-square-foot convention center expansion, including the new Signia by Hilton hotel, which opens in February 2027. Badges for next year’s convention will go on sale in early 2027 on the convention’s website (gencon.com).

About Gen Con

Gen Con is North America’s largest and longest-running annual event devoted to tabletop gaming culture. The convention, which began in 1968 in Lake Geneva, WI, takes place each summer in Indianapolis, IN. During the convention, attendees shop and demo games from hundreds of exhibiting companies and choose from thousands of ticketed events representing a wide array of board games, card games, roleplaying games, seminars, entertainment events, and more.

Meet Rhonda Goode, Fitness Instructor in Richmond KY

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Rhonda Goode is the fitness instructor Richmond KY relies on for real talk and real results. Listen to her story across 7 episodes of More Movement Please.

No Excuses. No Fluff. Just Rhonda Goode.

You’ve heard us talk about her. You’ve asked for her. Here she is.

Rhonda Goode is a group fitness instructor in Richmond, Kentucky who has spent 14 years teaching classes people actually show up for. And she didn’t plan a single minute of it. Two instructors quit at the same time, a room full of people needed someone to lead them, and Rhonda stepped up. No five year plan, no perfect moment. Just showing up when it mattered.

She’s since taught “land classes,” aqua classes, and packed out rooms so full the mirrors fogged up. She doesn’t do diet talk. She doesn’t do fluff. She tells you the truth about your workout, your excuses, and what you’re actually capable of, and she does every single rep right alongside you.

Below are all the episodes featuring Rhonda in one place, so you don’t have to go digging. Grab a seat and get ready to be told the truth.

The Instructor Who Will Actually Tell You the Truth About Your Workout

Rhonda Goode is a fitness instructor in Richmond, KY

# 7 – From Food Coma Family Reunions to Breaking the Generational Curse

# 8 – Watching Her Mom Become a Prisoner in Her Own Body

#9 – From Working Out at Night to Becoming a Fitness Instructor | Rhonda’s 21-Day Habit Secret

# 48 – She Never Planned to Teach. Then the Room Filled Up and the Mirrors Fogged Over.

# 49 – 14 Years at the Front of the Room: What a Real Fitness Instructor Actually Sees

# 50 – This Fitness Instructor Can Tell in 60 Seconds If You’re Going to Quit

80 – Stop Commenting on People’s Bodies: Rhonda Goode’s Fitness Class PSA

Tune into all the latest episodes of the More Movement Please podcast:

Who Is Rhonda Goode?

Rhonda Goode is a group fitness instructor in Richmond, KY with 14 years of experience leading classes people come back to again and again. She holds a general group fitness certification and a Silver Sneakers certification, and over the years she’s taught everything from Zumba to aqua fitness to boot camp style classes and more.

Rhonda walked into a gym for the first time in 2011 at 35 years old and just kept showing up. What started as a student turned into an instructor almost by accident, when two of her own instructors quit at the same time and someone needed to lead the class. She got licensed, started teaching a small community class at Eastern Kentucky University, and it grew from there. Word spread fast. She eventually packed out Berea College so completely that the mirrors fogged up from the crowd.

No Shots. No Pills. Just Results.

Rhonda’s style is simple (but NOT easy!). She shows up, she does every move alongside her students, and she doesn’t stand at the front barking orders while everyone else struggles. She’s known for being direct, sometimes blunt, always honest. If you’re new to group fitness, she’ll walk right up and introduce herself and tell you to do what you can. That’s what makes her approach to group fitness for beginners so different. Nobody gets left behind and nobody gets made to feel small.

She’s not about diet culture, quick fixes, or making you feel bad for where you’re starting from. There’s no shortcut she’s selling you. She’s about consistency, strength, and telling the truth even when it stings a little.

Where You Can Find More of Rhonda

Rhonda is our head coach inside our fitness community, where she shows up with workouts, Q&As, and coaching built specifically for people who want a real fitness instructor in their corner, someone who has spent over a decade in the room with real people at every level.

No diet talk. No supplements. No pressure to be anything other than exactly where you are right now.

Join the community here and get Rhonda in your corner for real.

Have YOU worked out today?

Freedom Isn’t Just a Holiday. It’s What Fitness Gives You Back

A thirty-five pack of water used to mean asking for help. Now I pick it up myself, and that’s just the start of what fitness gave me back. On this Fourth of July, I’m talking about the real freedom that comes from getting stronger: carrying your own groceries, taking the stairs without stopping, dancing all night without needing a chair.

I reflect on hikes I couldn’t have finished a year ago and a dance floor moment with my husband that reminded me exactly why I started. If you’ve ever felt boxed in by your own body, this one’s for you.

⚠️This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program.⚠️

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I’ll Be Your Guinea Pig: Testing Fitness Products So You Don’t Have To

I’m tired of guessing whether that protein bar or electrolyte packet is actually worth your money, so I’m volunteering to test it first and tell you the truth. This episode kicks off my new plan to try the products, classes, and trends listeners are curious about, from protein pancakes to electrolyte supplements, and report back with zero sugarcoating.

My boundaries are clear: no detox teas, no diet culture nonsense, just honest takes on the stuff that might actually help you move more. If you’ve ever wanted someone else to try it first, this is officially your show.

⚠️This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program.⚠️

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Movement Is My Cheapest Therapy: What the Gym Does for My Brain, Not Just My Body

Some days the world feels heavy and the bills don’t stop coming. I’m opening up about losing clients to AI, waiting on late payments, and why the gym has become my cheapest and most reliable form of therapy.

Movement clears my head, sharpens my focus, and keeps me out of my own thoughts when life gets hard. I cover free and low-cost ways to move your body, from library yoga classes to sliding-scale gym fees, plus why showing up for a workout can shift your whole mental state. No pills. No shots. Just movement.

⚠️This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program.⚠️

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Talk Nice to Yourself: A Pep Talk for Bad Gym Days

You went from lifting the 20s back down to the 8s, and you’re furious about it. I’m getting brutally honest about backsliding at the gym, gaining some weight back, and why I had to become my own cheerleader instead of waiting around for someone else to clap for me.

This one’s about ditching the scale-and-pant-size scoreboard and giving yourself credit just for showing up, even on the days when nothing feels like it’s working. If fitness intimidates you or you’re stuck in a rut right now, this is your permission slip to talk nicer to yourself.

⚠️This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program.⚠️

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Day 365 Is Coming: The Full Story of How More Movement Please Started

“Less than four weeks to day 365, and all is well.” If you keep hearing about Day 365 and have no idea what that means, start here. It all traces back to one sentence from my instructor Rhonda Goode that finally stuck, and the week of July 14, 2025, when I showed up to 19 classes in seven days and accidentally set my own life on fire, in the best way.

I walk through the Instagram accountability posts, the Medium article, the podcast launch, and why July 13, 2026 isn’t just a birthday, it’s a celebration of 365 days of maximum effort. New listeners, this is your entry point.

⚠️This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program.⚠️

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Almost There: What One Year of Maximum Effort Really Looks Like

“31 days to day 365, and all is well.” Getting fit in your forties is not supposed to feel smooth and easy, and this episode is the honest version nobody else says out loud. I’m reflecting on nearly two decades of being inactive, the pain that came with it, and why I refuse to let that be my story anymore.

I talk about wanting more than just smaller clothes, watching people I love start to struggle with their own movement, and why functionality, not vanity, is the real reason to get up and go. This one hits different 31 days out from something huge.

⚠️This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program.⚠️

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From Morbidly Obese Teenager to Fitness Expert: Domenic Angelino’s Story

“You’re like really, really smart.” What happens when a morbidly obese 14-year-old loses over 130 pounds and accidentally becomes the person his whole high school turns to for fitness advice? That’s Domenic Angelino, and his story is one of the most fascinating this show has covered. He went from overweight teen to double-majoring in exercise science and psychology, then earned two master’s degrees in kinesiology and public health.

I react to his voice note with my own honest reflection: I was active for years as a dancer and taekwondo student, then went completely inactive in college and didn’t find my way back to fitness until 41. This is a conversation about how different people find their way to movement, and why that story matters more than the timeline.

⚠️This podcast is for entertainment purposes only and is not medical advice. Please consult a healthcare professional before starting any diet or exercise program.⚠️

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